At 10 year plan discussions staff continue to highlight the plight of our city's finances over the next 10 years.

This forward financial plan is one of the few good ideas foisted onto Local Government by the previous socialist Labour Government. It's a shame they didn't do a 10 year plan themselves!
The Bay Times chose not to attend these very important meetings that provide facts, detail and discussion forming the background to Tauranga' future financial direction and priorities but managed to make it to submissions to the Horses on Beaches bylaw hearings. Such are some people's priorities – looking for the 'man bites dog” stories.
Suffice to say that Council is going to attempt to stay within the $400 million debt envelope that will enable the City to maintain its A Grade credit rating. A slip to A minus would increase our interest payments over the entire city debt by about another $1 million over time as existing debt matures. And all this supposes, for example, we do transfer debt like Route K to 'the Agency” – formerly Transit – (don't you love these acronyms.)
Rick Curach suggested ratepayer funding Route K in the future. I couldn't follow his logic but CEO Stephen Town told Council 'the Agency” was comfortable with revenue projections and takeover was likely to proceed especially with increased traffic from the Pyes Pa by pass. So if you read about an 8% rate increase for next year that is far away from being decided and the electric scythe I mentioned last week may be about to be wielded.
Major projects delay
The 'cannibal” system to process city wastewater sludge was the first major project to be delayed. Its cost was expanding exponentially and it will be now implemented over a much longer period. It can be built in stages so in the meantime the sludge ponds will be cleaned out – at a cost of around $2.5 million. Disposal of contaminated sludge is expensive but remember where it all came from!
Mayor Stuart Crosby had some words for staff who were pushing the old 'we have to do this and that” story telling them that this Council was not going to meet the theory of the Local Government Act.
This Council will deliver as best it can with the reality its people face and would find the balance. Council would slow down or speed up provision of services according to community circumstances.
Staffing levels
Inevitably the discussion got around to staffing levels. CEO Stephen Town told Council management would he holding 25 vacancies as a running total over the next year or so. This would mean the rest of the staff working harder to achieve a saving of around $1 million. Staffing level is presently set at 451.5 Full Time Equivalents currently 425 actual and a salary budget of $27 million. Staff turnover is 14% and if this dropped to 8% or 9% this could produce more savings of around another $1 million with less loss of productivity, recruitment etc. The organisation was looking to itself to mirror what's going on in the community, Stephen said!
Other highlights from Council include delaying a new Arataki Community Centre and providing new toilets and changing rooms at Arataki in the interim.
David Stewart's ongoing crusade to have all the city's roads hotmixed didn't get much traction. For $1 million or $15 - $20 per ratepayer per year (only four cups of coffee!) we could all enjoy this addition, we were told. Problem is it all adds up. Rebuilding the rock wall along Dive Crescent heading south from the Sebel Hotel was $5 - $6 million. I told Council that these rocks should just be put back in place – they've lasted 70-80 years – at a fraction of the cost.
Lost focus on social spending
Central Government Treasury are playing hard to get over the Joint Officials Group (JOG) money promised by Central Government last year for roading upgrades. 'Beware of the Greeks when they come laden with treasure,” springs to mind here. Stormwater projects at $126.5 million and Southern Pipeline at $106 million are the major priorities and stumbling blocks over the next 10 years. Council should have been concentrating on stormwater in the past instead of Baywave, Art Gallery, museum and much other luxury social spending.
This Council is far more vigilant on that sort of spending. The Southern Pipeline, whilst being pushed out another couple of years, is a 'have to do.” We simply can't have sewage overflows and that's not exaggeration according to professional forecasts. Of course we can always resort to the Voluntary Rates account that continues to languish with a balance of $3051 as all those who want, need and deserve all manner of amenities refuse to pay voluntarily and demanded the rest of us paid for their passion through a compulsory rate on our properties. Shame on them!
Continued responsibility of riders
Horses on Beaches Bylaw mentioned earlier got passed after its FOURTH hearing. The same submitters telling the same stories. Some great one-liners lightened the afternoon. Horses for courses, what would 'neigh sayers” think, and Wayne Moultrie didn't want to make changes on the hoof. So with some sensible restriction on the Mount Beach we're trusting horse riders to continue to be responsible.
Leaders of museum proposal
The community representatives to lead a new museum proposal have been approved at Full Council. To be chaired by Jon Mayson community members are Michael Ludbrooke, Graeme Purches, Susan Northey and Alan Tate who will join Mayor Stuart Crosby, Catherine Stewart, Murray Guy and Mike Baker with one from Western Bay Council and one from Tangata Whenua. The nominees expressed a desire that the project 'should be undertaken in a timely manner”.
A lot of work has already been done so they won't need to reinvent the wheel. This will be a community led project for it to succeed and in my opinion if any group can make this work, it will be them.